Protecting Children's Health: Asthma and Climate Change.

ABSTRACT: Children are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Their lungs are developing, making children with asthma especially susceptible to temperature extremes, variations in precipitation, poor air quality, and changes in pollen and flora. Structural and social determinants of health, such as racism and poverty, that disproportionately affect children of color are linked to higher rates of asthma and negative effects of climate change. These factors lead to increased absences from school and social activities, loss of work for caregivers, and increased health care costs, thus negatively affecting children, their families, and the greater community. Nurses must support caregivers and children to link climate change to asthma care, be involved in health education; climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies and policies; and develop the evidence to address climate change and asthma strategies. We address the impacts of climate change on children with asthma and nursing adaptation responses.

Exposures to per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): Potential risks to reproductive and children's health.

As the science on the human health effects of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) emerges, there are growing concerns about the potential health impacts on children and reproductive health. PFAS exposure may affect growth, learning, and behavior of infants and older children; lower a woman's chance of getting pregnant; increase cholesterol levels; affect the immune system; and induce vaccine-reduced immune protection in children. Without existing regulation or established standards for testing and treatment, prevention is key. PFAS exposure can occur through a wide range of consumer products and a contaminated drinking water supply. Military bases and surrounding communities have been especially impacted by PFAS in drinking water from the use of firefighting foam for decades.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances: An Emerging Contaminant of Concern.

Concerns about the health impacts from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) continue to grow as the science continues to emerge associating this chemical family with a wide range of health impacts. PFAS exposure may affect growth, learning, and behavior of infants and older children, and also impact reproductive health, cardiovascular health, and the immune system. PFAS exposure is widespread, with communities surrounding military bases at potentially greater risk of exposure from the use of fire fighting foam that may have entered the drinking water. As trusted health professionals, nurses have been in the frontlines communicating risks regarding PFAS to impacted communities. This chapter describes a large number of PFAS studies in blood and harmful health effects in people. The chapter discusses primary sources of exposure and risk reduction. It explains health advisory levels, minimal risk levels. The chapter provides medical testing and medical management.